MS Nazki
Early Times Report
Mendhar, Nov 13: How the corruption is deep rooted in the department of Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) can be well gauged from the fact that the 311 solar lights, meant for widows, people living Below Poverty Line, were sold at exorbitant rates.
Sources told Early Times that total 411 solar lights were sanctioned for panchayat Balakote of tehsil Mendhar for the poor people living at border village only 311 solar lights were distributed and some solar lights were allegedly given to the undeserved people who didn't fall in the category of the beneficiaries.
Shockingly the solar lights which were sold on exorbitant rates, as the actual price of the each solar light was Rs 750 but the officials of JKEDI sold them at the rate of Rs 1000 and receipt was given of Rs 750 to the beneficiaries.
"The list of the 411 genuine beneficiaries including the widows whose husband died in mine blast at border and people leaving below poverty lines, was prepared by the late Sarpanch of the parnchayat Balakote and same submitted to the JKEDI but after the death of the sarpanch, Naib Sarpanch of panchayat Balakote Nazeem Khan took up the matter," they said.
Sources alleged that among the beneficiaries at least 28 persons were outsiders and there was double entry of 33 persons in the list which showed the involvement of officials of JKEDI. Moreover the batteries of these solar lights were found substandard which got easily exhausted.
Block Development Officer Balakote Abdul Rashid Khwaja, when contacted by the Early Times scribe, responded rudely asking him that who has authorized him to ask this questions on scam.
Later Deputy Commissioner Poonch MH Malik was contacted for his version in this context, said that he has not got any complaint in this matter and assured that he would initiate investigation to verify the facts.
When DC was informed about the misbehavior of the concerned BDO with the scribe, he said if such thing has happened, he condemn it as media is the fourth pillar of the society which brings out the corruption within the system.
However, ACD Bhasharat gave very casual reply on this matter and said that most of the officers are on Diwali leave and would see the matter after their resumption of duty. |
